Page 27 of Abigail
“Yes,” Abigail answers her. The little girl smiles.
“Can I go see the baby with Jessie and Josh for a minute?” Ellie asks sweetly. “I want to tell them I’m coming to live with them.” She doesn’t even wait for Abigail to answer before she spins on her feet to run to the boys.
“Ellie! Wait!” Abigail exclaims. “That’s not what I said.” Ellie isn’t listening. She’s running full tilt toward her new friends. Abigail shakes her head as she straightens out from her kneeling position. She makes eye contact with the admiral and is surprised at the shock on his face and the wetness on his cheeks. “Sir, are you all right?”
The admiral’s face morphs into a hesitant smile. He starts to speak. Nothing but a wheeze comes out. He clears his throat. “Yes, I’m better than I’ve been in four long years. Thank you again, Abigail, for letting me in and being willing to share your beautiful daughter with me.” Abigail clears her throat too as a huge knot has formed, and she can’t get any words to come out at first.
“You’re welcome.” She finally manages to squeak out. “Are you still stationed at Paris Island?” His location was on her mind, and how she could find a place that would work for all parties involved.
“No,” he replies. “I’m actually at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.” He glances at Robert. “The same base your man is stationed.” He nods in Robert’s direction. A tight band that she hadn’t realized was around her chest loosens and she can breathe freely. One problem solved, now to quit her job, pack their things, and find a new place to live. Lord! This is going to be a huge undertaking. It’s scary, no doubt about it, but she knows in her heart this is the right thing to do, not only for her, but for Ellie, too. The admiral shocks Abigail once again by his next statement.
“Straw, I will have to pull a few strings, but I’ll make sure your time out here is extended by another week. It’ll be leave time of course. I hope that won’t be too much of a hardship on you?” The admiral has a smirk on his face like he knows that Robert will be very pleased by his declaration.
“No, Sir,” Robert replies immediately. “No hardship at all.” The admiral chuckles, which then turns into a full-on belly laugh when Robert wraps his arm around Abigail’s waist.
“Take care of my girls,” The admiral says to Robert. He holds out his hand to Robert. Robert removes his hand from Abigail’s waist, and the two men shake hands. “Always, Sir,” Robert replies. Then the Admiral turns to his friend, Olsen, and they leave heading to the parking lot. Abigail and Robert watch them leave.
Charlotte, Daisy, and Lisa approach them as they turn toward the playground to round up the children. The women have a conspiratorial look on their faces. Abigail can tell these women are up to something. Robert groans as they approach. Abigail looks up at him to see his face scrunched up and his eyes rolling toward the sky. “What’s wrong Robert?” Abigail asks with concern.
“Those women are up to something,” Robert is shaking his head. She looks back to greet the women.
“Abigail!” Charlotte calls her name enthusiastically. “We have been talking. How would you feel about Ellie staying the night at the hotel with us?” Abigail is momentarily stunned. She’s never spent a night away from Ellie, ever. Near panic begins to set in, and as if Charlotte can read her mind, but more likely her face, she hurries to ease Abigail’s concerns. She grabs Abigail’s hand and begins to drag her away from Robert. “We need to borrow her for a moment, Straw,” Charlotte calls over her shoulder then lowers her voice as she continues. The other two women have crowded around, too. “We were just thinking the kids could have a slumber party while you and Straw have a sleep over.” Charlotte waggles her eyebrows suggestively. Abigail feels her face heat in embarrassment.
“I don’t know,” Abigail begins hesitantly. “I haven’t ever spent a night away from Ellie. I’m not sure she would be comfortable with that, either.”
“It’s not like you will be that far away from her,” Lisa comments. Abigail gives her a questioning look. So, Lisa continues, “We will all be at the hotel. Robert’s room is on the same floor as the rest of us. If Ellie gets scared or wants her Momma, you’ll be close by.” Abigail contemplates this, but doubt creeps in. She definitely wants Robert in every physical way, but they really haven’t talked about it or even gotten any further than some heavy kissing.
“We haven’t…I mean…you think he’d want to…” Abigail trails off in further embarrassment. She giggles nervously.
“Of course, he wants to!” Daisy and Charlotte exclaim at the same time. The women burst into laughter.
“First of all, he’s a man,” Daisy states. “Second, he’s a hot-blooded Marine. They are always ready to go, if you know what I mean,” Daisy gives her a knowing look. “I think I can speak for all of these ladies when I say these men are insatiable in the sex department.” Lisa gasps in surprise.
“Don’t include me in this,” Lisa says heatedly. Her eyes drifts to the men huddled together. Hack turns his head at the same time. Abigail notices they hold one another’s gaze for a moment before Lisa jerks her eyes back to the women.
Daisy whips her head to glare at Lisa. “Seriously? You’re going to keep pretending we don’t all know what’s going on?” Lisa’s face sets into a grimace.
“Don’t start Daisy.” Lisa practically growls. “We are not having this conversation again. You are going to get Charlotte riled up, and I’m NOT in the mood to deal with this shit right now.” Abigail’s head is nodding back and forth like she’s watching a tennis match. Daisy glares at Lisa for a minute then turns her attention back to Abigail. Charlotte is giving Lisa a sympathetic look. Abigail wonders what is going on. Is something up with Lisa and Hack? She will need to ask Robert’s thoughts on the matter when they are alone. She would never do anything to embarrass Lisa by speaking about it in front of the others.
“Third,” Daisy continues, “He practically drools when he looks at you. The man absolutely will want to have a sleep over.” Abigail glances over to where Robert has joined the other men watching over the children. It seems the men are giving him a bit of a hard time too. They are all laughing and slapping him on the back. Tank pulls out his wallet and slips something into Robert’s hand. The roar of laughter from the men intensifies. Robert shakes his head, but he’s smiling at his teammates. Abigail bites her lower lip as she thinks about what might happen later.
“Come on, girl,” Charlotte whines. “You know you want to do the hokey pokey.” Abigail gives her a frown. “Horizonal mambo? Bumping uglies? Put the wand in the chamber of secrets?” Abigail loses it. She cackles out loud, and the whole group of women erupt in laughter at Charlotte’s list of euphemisms for sex. After they finally get themselves under control, Charlotte continues. “And you know that we will take good care of Ellie.” Abigail nods.
“I know you will,” Abigail concedes. “I’m sure Ellie will be thrilled, but I’ll be a nervous wreck.” She giggles again. Then she voices her biggest concern. “Don’t you all think it’s a little fast? We’ve only known each other such a short time…” She trails off.
“Only you and Straw will know when the time is right.” Lisa joins the conversation, giving her a sympathetic look. “Sometimes it’s not about how much time you’ve spent with someone. It’s the connection you feel. How well you get along together. The feeling they will do anything they can to make sure you have what you need.”
“And the chemistry,” Emma interjects. “You and Straw have some really hot chemistry. We can all feel it when y’all are in the same room.” Abigail feels her face heat again. She hadn’t realized everyone else could see just how much Robert affects her. Just seeing him makes her heart beat faster, her breasts pebble, and her core leak to dampen her panties. Yeah, they’ve got some hot chemistry, that’s for sure.
“Okay.” Abigail holds up her hands to halt the conversation. “I admit that spending the night with Robert is high on my list of priorities.” She chuckles. “I’m just nervous. It’s been a very long time, since I’ve…allowed a wand in the chamber of secrets. Other than the plastic variety.” She blushes again and the women giggle.
“Giirrll.” Charlotte draws out the word. “You’ll be fine. It’s like riding a bicycle.” She giggles. “It had been over five years for me when Hawk took me the first time.” Abigail’s eyes bug out in surprise. So, her four years give or take isn’t that strange after all.
“Over five for me, too” Emma adds.
“I was a virgin,” Elise adds shyly. Abigail looks at the women and sees the truth in their eyes. It’s strange to have these women put their trust in her and share something so personal. Abigail feels like she’s finally a part of their tight group. She now has a girl posse. It feels really, really good.
“Speaking of dry spells. How long was your dry spell, Lisa? Eight, nine years?” Charlotte smirks at her friend in a teasing tone, but Lisa clearly didn’t take it that way. Lisa’s jaw tightens as she glares at Charlotte.
